China announced on Tuesday a relaxation of its visa-free transit policy, extending the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers to 240 hours (10 days) from the previous 72-144 hours. This measure, effective immediately, was shared by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on its official WeChat account.
Individuals from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, who are transiting through China to a third country or region, can now enter China without a visa at any of the 60 open ports across 24 provinces and stay in the specified area for up to 240 hours.
Since reopening its borders in 2023 after three years of self-imposed isolation due to COVID-19, China has waived visa requirements to encourage more visitors to the world's second-largest economy. In November, China's Foreign Ministry announced that the visa-free policy was extended to a total of 38 countries.
Travelers from these countries, including Spain, Singapore, and the Netherlands, do not need a visa to enter China and can stay for up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit.